Council zones annexed lands on west boundary

By Rob Vogt
Claresholm town council has zoned land recently annexed on the western boundary of town to agricultural/transitional.
At its Jan. 8 meeting, council held a public hearing in order to gather any feedback on the proposed zoning.
Abe Tinney, the town’s chief administrative officer, explained the zoning is part of the process of the town annexing three quarter sections on its western boundary from the Municipal District of Willow Creek.
He noted there are about 130 landowners along Eight Street who were notified of the zoning and the public hearing, but no comments were forwarded to the town to be presented at the public hearing.
However, there were some landowners who came to the public hearing.
Andreas Pommer, was one adjacent landowner. He asked what the zoning will mean for development, asking if there is a developer lined up?
Mayor Brad Schlossberger responded the landowner is in favour of the annexation, but is waiting to see what happens before pursuing any development.
Pommer asked if there was a plan.
Tinney responded there is no time frame. He added an area structure plan for the land is needed to lay out all development for the annexed lands. He said there is no indication for development other than it is desired, and that it will primarily be residential.
Pommer also asked if the people on Eighth Street would have a veto on development.
Tinney replied there will be a development process where adjacent landowners can lodge complaints. Right now the only proposal is to incorporate the land into the town’s boundaries.
Kathy Charchun, another adjacent landowner, asked what is agricultural transition?
Tinney explained it has some specific described uses such as additions, maintenance, and replacement of existing dwellings; alternative energy, that is wall and roof-mounted solar generation; extensive agriculture, which the land already is; and home occupation.
He stressed if the land is developed it has to be re-zoned accordingly.
Charchun asked if it will be primarily residential, what else will it be?
Tinney responded there may be some commercial such as a convenience store, but it is too early to tell. An area structure plan will provide a large plan for that whole area.
Charchun asked if there is any information on what kind of residential, and Tinney said likely all forms, but again it is too early to tell.
Finally, Charchun asked if water use and availability are part of the conversation for development.
Schlossberger responded water is always part of the conversation with everything the town does. He added it is early in the process. The landowners have to do an area structure plan then have an open house. At that time people can come and express their concerns.
He then closed the public hearing.
Later in the meeting, council passed the final two readings of a bylaw zoning the land agricultural/transitional.
Back at council’s Dec. 11 meeting, it reviewed a report from administration explaining with the completion of annexation for the west lands, as indicated by a provincial order-in-council, the Town of Claresholm has recommended the designation of the lands to align with the Town of Claresholm land-use districts.
Consequently, this bylaw will designate the annexed land as agricultural/transitional, or AT, in keeping with the use until development is desired.
As per the order-in-council, the annexation comes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
Tinney explained the zoning also determines how the land will be taxed, which is at the same rate as when it was part of the M.D.
It will remain at that rate until the land is developed.